Hello and welcome! This silly blog is an experiment in my own vanity in terms of my opinions on craft beer and music and various pairings (much like you would do with food). I definitely want to express that I am no expert in terms of brewing or in musical composition. This is merely opinion, my opinion (sometimes clouded by consumption) with regards to enjoyable beers and music. Cheers! (Check us out on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brews-and-Tunes/349546661726318?ref=hl)

Saturday, January 12, 2013

January 12th, 2013 - Alt To The Wall!!

So yesterday we paid homage to the Scots. Today we're going Germanic with Accept's explosive and highly influential 1983 album "Balls To The Wall" and the Pinkus Organic Münster Alt from Brauerei Pinkus Mueller.

The Pinkus Organic Münster Alt pours a hazy, light-wheat color with a bright white, 1.5 finger head. The nose is rather interesting with notes of lemon, sour dough, and a hint of red wine vinegar (that probably sounds awful, but it really isn't!) It has a light body with a decent amount of carbonation that gives it a real nice, crisp mouthfeel. There some good, funky flavors you would normally find in Belgian farmhouse-style ales. This is more of a sour (farmhouse-style) so the Pinkus Organic Münster Alt has an abundance of tart notes: lime, lemon, and a hint of salty brine along with light breadiness and slight bitter hops. It goes down quick and easy with a clean finish, which is exactly what you want to drink with German metal! There's a nice lemony bite at the finish as well... like the tart pop you get from a glass of lemonade. I quickly threw back two of these pint sized bastards before I was even 3 quarters of the way throughout the album! Definitely a good beer to down with the speed and aggression of Accept's "Balls To The Wall!"

Some quick background: Accept originally hails from Solingen, Germany and was formed by vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Okay, enought of that... let's get into the music! I debated on which Accept album to pair with the Pinkus Organic Münster Alt for quite some time today, as I love all of their stuff, but "Balls To The Wall" is just such a definitive, kick-ass metal monster! Wow, where does one begin with this album? Guess we will start with... well, the beginning! Title track and opener "Balls To The Wall," which may be the perfect metal anthem lays it the hell down! Like the rest of the album, it has it all... powerful, thunderous drumming, amazing guitar and bass work, and Udo's distinctive and intense voice. The second track, "London Leatherboys" is just as devastating, interesting, and engrossing! In fact, every track on this album is engrossing... from "Fight It Back" to "Love Child" to "Losers And Winners" to "Guardian Of The Night"... all I can say is this... kick-ass, in-your-face, heavy fucking metal power!! My favorite track (I think... they are all so wonderful!), "Head Over Heels" is fist-pumping perfection! Wolf's guitar work on this track (as with all the others) is a sheer wall-of-sound beauty! Wolf's tone alone is worth every damn dollar spent on this and all Accept albums... no shit... I kid you not!! Meaty, deep, and profoundly powerful... like everything about this band!!

If you are a metal head and do not own "Balls To The Wall," go get your goddamned head examined and then go pick it up from my friend Kevin at the Heavy Metal Shop: www.heavymetalshop.com!!!! :)